Saw a post on the Leeds board about 2015 dream team. Thought it was a good idea so here is mine



1. Hardaker (hands down)
2. McGillvary
3. Watkins
4. Bateman (hope he stays in the centres next year)
5. Burgess
6. Williams
7. Kelly
8. Cuthbertson
9. Pelissier
10. Walmsley
11. Currie
12. Farrell
13. Ta'ai

Might not look the strongest in terms of names but that for me is full of the best players (on form) this season.

Manfredi and Lineham are unlucky to miss out on the 2 spot but i don't think anyone can argue that McGillvary doesn't deserve to be there.

Bateman has been a revelation at centre and just edges out Percival and even Denny Solomona who has been fantastic for the Tigers.

Williams' moments of inspiration get's him in at 6 and i was speaking to him on Saturday night and is very polite lad so that goes for him too



Kelly has been outstanding for KR, Gale and Chase right behind him for the other HB spot.

Pelissier has been very consistent in a very inconsistent Dragons side that sees me not include Roby for the first time in years and Houghton has also been consistent for FC.

Loose Forward is a bit of a tricky one, Lockers has been inspiring of late but injuries and inconsistency early on sees him miss out. Not really any stand out ones but Ta'ai has been a rock for the Giants in their surge up the table.

Man Of Steel - Cuthbertson
Young Player Of The Year - Williams

Pelissier has to be the most left field choice I've ever seen! Doesn't seem to have played as much this year as in previous years. I'd go Aiton myself but there's cases for Roby and Micky Mac (although I'd say Micky Mac has been slightly below his best).

I'd go-

Hardaker
McGillvary
Watkins
Percival
Burgess
McGuire
Gale
Hill
Aiton
Walmsley
Taia
Bateman
Cuthbertson

Are people mixing up Taia and Ta'ai?

No, that's probably just me.



Taia had a terrific first half of the season; didn't he get a serious injury?

Dream team yes, reality team no!

McGillvary and Watkins can't defend, they can tackle but not defend.
Carney at 6, A class apart from every other 6 in SL.
Roby a must, 80 mins for Saints every match.
Cuthbertson is a great off loader, under pressure he messes up and when shut down anonymous.
Walmsley, grat player but needs spelling three times a game, no future in that, he's got to get fitter.

Hardaker,
Carney (Cas), Percival, Shenton, Burgess,
Carney (Cats) Smith,
Hill, Roby, Peacock,
Bateman, Ablett,
O'Loughlin.

You've got to have players who can attack and defend. One or the other isn't enough.

Ha ha, that's what i was getting at. (some of what you say) the big names (majority) haven't delivered this year. Unlike a Phil Clarke easily predictable team, my team is a fair reflection of how players have performed. in my opinion of course. I was torn between Aiton and Pelissier at hooker but i really rate Pelissier and every time i see him he always performs, Even when Catalans don't. Roby (although has been good) has had nowhere near the influence he usually has although you can put that down to playing in a team that for more than half a season have been relatively poor. Few individual good players for Saints but have been poor as a unit.

That's more like father Dougal, than Father Ted.

Watkins and McGilvery can't defend, but you've picked Percival, and Justin Carney?

Walmsley needs to get fitter, but makes more carries, and meters than any player in the league. If he needs to get fitter than what do Flanders, and Carney(T) need to do?

Your comments regarding Cuthbertson are hilarious.

FWIW, I'd go with:

Hardaker
McGilvery
Watkins
Shenton/Moon
Burgess
Brown/Brough
McGuire
Walmsley
Roby
Millington
Taia
Minichello
Cuthbertson

Hardaker
Manfredi. Watkins. Percival. Burgess
Carney. Brough
Walmsley. Roby. Hill
Taia. Whitehead
Cuthbertson

Is your Smith T or M, Father Ted?

Either are ahem, surprising choices in my book.

A lot of people seem to be swapping wingers from one flank to another. That's surely going to impact on their effectiveness?

McGillvary has certainly had a good season (not least against Wigan!), but he's always struck me a hard-running big lad without much finesse to his game. The likes of Joe Burgess can (and frequently have, this season) created tries out of nothing, both for themselves and others. I don't see JMcG being anywhere near that class. But he's been helped by a lack of other options on the right, with Hall, Burgess, and Carney all on the left.

I'd go with aboveus's side except Williams for Carney (purely on the basis that Carney hasn't had the games in SL; I don't think he should get in on past performances). Toss-up between Gale and Brough for the 7. Bateman just possibly ahead of Whitehead.

Problem i had was, Bateman was always getting in but what position. I think he is a machine in the second row but i really do favour him at centre and i would have absolutely no problem in making that his position. A fully tuned up Tomkins and Farrell (who has come on leaps and bounds after his first 5 or 6 games) would do me fine in the second row. Bateman is too good to leave out of the team and could always fill in there with the extremely promising Gildart covering the centre spot. I am a lot more confident about next season already than i was about 10 weeks ago. Spoke to Lewis Tierney on Saturday and he confirmed he is back up winger next season but not back up full back so i presume that Hampshire will cover Fb and 6 and 7. A lot of pacey and exciting youngsters bursting onto the scene. Could be the backbone of us for a few years.

Yes, Bateman hasn't been bad for a 'makeshift' centre, has he? We've all known that he is a machine at tackling, but he's shown that he has more to his game than that, and is a skillful footballer who can offer a fair bit in attack too. I don't think that can put him ahead of recognised centres like Shenton and Watkins as far as the DT is concerned, but as you say, it's all good as far as the Club is concerned.

Gildart looks very slight in build for a centre, but he has great pace and footwork, and will be an asset to the squad going forward. I really hope we can hang on to Rocky, but am finding it hard to be optimistic about that.

It's ultimately a form (a consistent 7 months worth of form)team that's being picked though not a dream team in the sense of who you think the best players are overall.

If it were then Lockers would definitely get in at 13, Carney at 6 and Roby at 9 in my side but that's not what's being picked.

I also can't agree that Watkins can't defend. It's an area of his game that's steadily improved over time. Do I think he's the second coming that sky make out? No not even close, he not in the class of guys from the earlier superleague eras like Newlove, Connolly, Lyon etc but he is easily the best about at the moment.

I picked Todd Carney on the form he has showed. He has played ten games and Catalans have won eight of them I think. If he'd played a full season the Dragons would have made the top four easily. His classis undeniable. Much as I'd love to pick Williams, Carney has showed too much even in a shortened season. His passing skills are sublime. Better than anyone in the world not just Super League.

Hardaker

McGillvary
Percival
Watkins
Burgess

McGuire
Kelly

Peacock
Aiton
Hill
Farrell
Wilkin
Cuthbertson

Smith is lucky to be getting picked in the Wigan team let alone be in the Dream team.

Not sure I'd be pointing out the importance of each individual being able to defend then picking Smith. Not that he would get in on attacking merit anyway

The title is Dream Team, no criteria mentioned.

When Wigan play Leeds how often do they attack the Moon/Hall wing? Almost never, they almost always go towards Watkins/Briscoe(Handley). Two weeks ago both sides scored four tries, weren't all Wigan's down the left attack, Leeds right defence? Not looked at the replay but I'm pretty sure they were.

Hardaker, best in SL.
Carney (Cas) A great attacking threat with a tremendous crash tackle.
Percival/Shenton both have had excellent seasons and can attack and defend.
Burgess, best in SL this season.
Carney (Cats) A class apart.
Smith, organiser and good field kicking game.
Hill, very good prop one of the best around.
Roby, can't be dropped.
Peacock, best prop in SL
Bateman, a very good back rower who can defend and attack.
Ablett, same as Bateman.
O'Loughlin, the best 13 in SL.

A team that can attack and defend with great leaders in Peacock, Shenton, Carney (Cats) & O'Loughlin who would be the leadership team.

Sorry but no way will that be the dream team.

The criteria is the best player in that position throughout the season. Always has been that criteria?

O'Loughlin and Smith? Not a chance. Cuthbertson and McGuire/Gale clearly.
Walmsley has easily been the best prop in the comp. He's a machine.
Carney won't get in either, he's only played 10 games. He'll probably get Man of Steel based on Roby winning it that time though.
Plenty of second rowers better than Ablett too. Minichiello would be my pick but there's also Taia, Whitehead, Ward, Holmes off the top of my head.

Jaysus

O'Loughlin? He has been a quality player for Wigan and England/GB for many years, but on this years form I can't see him in the dream team.

Bateman and Burgess from Wigan, any more and that's just cherryandwhite specs speaking.

It's all subjective.

On the one hand i've seen a lot of people who aren't Wigan fans going for Williams at 6 and leaving out Bateman. When you then look at Wigan fans dream team sides it's the opposite with the majority picking Bateman and going for another option at 6.

The majority of people tend to only watch their own sides week in week out. They then make picks based off highlight reels or games vs their own club without knowing how consistent these players truly are. Williams is a perfect example of this as, whilst i think he's done well for a young lad, i think his highlights have masked how inconsistent he's been at times (to be expected from a kid tbf).

So when Cuthbertson is shut down he's anonymous? EVERY PLAYER IS ANONYMOUS WHEN HE'S SHUT DOWN.

I can't remember seeing a game this year when Cuthbertson's been shut down anyway. Even in his few under-par games he's been a constant offloading threat and a hard worker and solid defender. Him and Hardaker are clear front-runners for Man Of Steel.

On this year's form and this year's form only.

Hardaker

McGillvaray
Watkins
Shenton
Burgess

Brough
McGuire

Walmsley
Roby
Hill
Z.Taia
Bateman
Cuthbertson

(Williams is a great prospect. Simple fact is that McGuire and Brough have had better seasons, but haven't caught the eye or got the hype as much because everyone's used to them being good)